Saturday, May 19, 2018

After spending some time away from Franklin for a family wedding weekend and then a work conference in Toronto, I took a walk around town on Saturday morning to catch up to what has been happening. Join me on the walk

Jane's Frames is closed and getting ready for a new business to open soon.

The new Santa Fe Grill has their signs up on their brightly colored building.

The trees are all full of leaves. Amazing how that can happen in a short period of time

Library book sale this weekend, May 19-20

a hearty bunch of Garden Club members, boys scouts and high schoolers were working on the flower beds at the Town Common and willingly posed for the photo

Bricks are still available for the new Veterans Walkway on the Town Common

tree trimming is very evident as the MBTA makes room for the new PTC system being installed on the Franklin Line. Only 2 more weekends for shuttle service!

If you want to stay informed on what matters in Franklin, MA, you have found the right place.

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Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Friday, May 18, 2018.

Softball = Franklin, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Annabelle Hebard plated the game’s only run with a sixth inning single to lift North Attleboro to the win in a rapidly played game. Ashley Cangiano reached on an error with one out in the sixth and Bella Erti followed with a double to move runners into scoring position before Hebard provided the clutch hit. Hebard had three hits for North and Abby Gallagher and Emily Nardelli each had one. Erti tossed a two-hitter, walking just one and striking out four, and got some help in the seventh with a nice catch by Emily Pastore.Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 12 vs. Cohasset, 7 – Final

Lane Reductions and Ramp Closures on I-90 in Boston on the Weekend of June 1-3 for Dry RunBeginning at 9:00 PM on Friday, June 1, MassDOT will reduce I-90 (Mass Pike) between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston to two lanes in each direction. I-90 will reopen to four lanes in each direction by 5:00 AM on Sunday, June 3. This will allow MassDOT and its contractor to conduct necessary preparation activities and a "dry run" to test the I-90 traffic logistics for the 2018 Construction Shutdown (July 26 – August 11), with the goal of making sure it will run as smoothly as possible.The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldier's Field Road will be closed during the dry run. The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.See the I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour Map and directions on the Traffic Management page (http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CommonwealthAvenueBridgeReplacement/TrafficManagement.aspx)During the dry run, a "crossover" on I-90 will direct all vehicles to either the eastboundor westbound roadways at different periods of time. There will be no impacts to the MBTA Green Line, Commuter Rail, or local vehicular traffic during the dry run.I-90 Impacts during the 2018 Construction ShutdownFrom 9:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 6, MassDOT will implement lane reductions and ramp closures on I-90 in Boston (between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass), as follows:

Two lanes in each direction during peak hours (additional lane closures during weekends and off-peak hours).

The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed this entire period.

The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.

The lane reductions will be necessary during the shutdown for the contractor to access the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge for demolition and replacement (see the video simulation of the project on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiGoPf8-3-Q).

Reminder #1

Weekend train service on the Franklin Line will be replaced by ADA accessible shuttle buses, making all regularly scheduled stops, between Forge Park/495 and Readville stations from April 7 through May 27 during the installation of PTC.The MBTA will install federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) systems along the Franklin Line to improve safety by reducing train collisions and derailments. This work will require weekend shutdowns on the line between Forge Park/495 and Readville, where passengers will connect to train service.Shuttle buses will be free and passengers will pay for train service from Readville to Boston.

Setting up and managing retirement plans can be too expensive for small employers. And when they do offer plans, the participants tend to pay higher fees than those at larger employers.

In late 2017, Massachusetts launched a state-administered 401(k) plan - the Connecting Organizations to Retirement (CORE) Plan. Small nonprofits with 20 employees or fewer are able to join this plan for which the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General will take on the bulk of administrative responsibilities as plan sponsor.

Through economies of scale the treasurer, as plan sponsor, is better equipped to obtain lower fees and expenses than in typical private plans. Even seemingly small fee differences can have a significant effect on retirees' savings. The chart below illustrates how differences in fees can affect long term returns under the CORE plan's upper- and lower-range fee structures compared with typical fee structures of comparable 401(k) plans.

Massachusetts is one of the only states that is implementing this type of plan for nonprofit workers.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Thursday, May 17, 2018.

Baseball = Franklin, 5 vs. Framingham, 3 – Final
– Jason Ulrickson picked up his second win in relief in as many days to help the Panthers pick a non-league win over Framingham. Ulrickson struck out six while allowing six hits, one walk, and an unearned run in 4.2 innings of work. Jake Macchi had a strong day offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Scott Elliott, Steve Luttazi, and Jake Noviello (RBI) all had one hit and a run scored. Mike Langmeyer and Evan Wendell each had a hit and an RBI for the Panthers.

Boys Tennis = Franklin, 1 vs. Hopedale, 4 – Final
– Franklin’s first doubles team of Tyler DiPalma and Derek Wu won in straight sets but the Panthers fell to Hopedale. DiPalma and Wu earned a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win.

by Emma Fletcher Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTCScammers need a good story to get to your wallet. Once they find one that works, they use it again and again. One of their old favorites brings together fake checks and secret shopping, and we've been hearing a lot about it lately. Read more

Once a year, we combine our delight with spring's new dry rosé with our passion to aid the fight against cancer.We invite all our favorite suppliers in to pour delicious rosé, but also summer-ready reds and whites, spirits, beer, and cocktails. Because we haven't convinced everyone to drink rosé ... yet!Your Drink Pink 'ticket' - a lovely, custom-etched Riedel glass- is a 100% donation to Milford Regional's Dana Farber Cancer Care Center. We will also be donating a share of the day's sales.The only remaining ingredient needed to make this a resounding success? You - our adventurous, generous, and utterly fabulous customers.Please consider joining us and bringing your friends for a fun, tasty, and purposeful day!